Hunger Games

I’m not going to lie to you. As soon as the Hunger Games became a big hype, I didn’t jump on the hype train. It wasn’t my cup of tea and to be honest, at first I wasn’t really on the edge of my seat. But, I decided to give it a chance, and lo and behold: I finished reading the book and had what many book enthusiasts call a book hangover. I couldn’t pick up another book for a few weeks because I was still so sucked in the world of the Hunger Games. I loved the love story between Peeta and Katniss and the action of it that had gripped me as soon as the characters entered the Capitol and things got real.

Looking at this book, the theme of disillusion and disappointment is definitely present. Katniss is a character who has been let down most of her life because of her mother. When her father passed away – we see that the mother of the Everdeen girls falls into depression and is unable to provide for her children. This boiled up feelings of resentment and disappointment in Katniss and so ‘took over as head of the family’ (Collins, 2008, p. 31), became as independent as possible and did the work herself.

To me, the disillusion present in this book is how corrupt the Capitol truly is and how the wealthy citizens of Panem do not grasp this at all. The Hunger Games are just an annual event – as if it’s the Super Bowl! Effie Trinket says ‘Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor.’ (Collins, 2008) as if it’s no big deal that kids are literally killing themselves for entertainment of others.

When looking at adults and parental figures in this book, there are adults who have had great impact on the characters, and these are figures you wouldn’t expect at first. Consider Haymitch, the personal trainer of Katniss and Peeta. At first, he is painted as a pathetic drunk who cannot get a grip on himself. I disliked him and his poisonous habit. But as the story unfolds, and after his first conflict with Peeta, in which Peeta angrily smashes a glass from Haymitch’s hand and Haymitch says ‘Well, what’s this? Did I actually get a pair of fighters this year?’ (Collins, 2008) he becomes this great mentor. If anything he is the first parental figure in the life of Katniss since her father’s passing and her mother’s depression – and this I admired greatly. For the first time in years, Katniss has an adult she can rely on.

Now, let’s back up here. This is a book which was very well received by young adults. It was all I could hear about when I was a teenager. And oh dear, when the movies came out?! The excitement was everywhere. The quotes from the book, all over my feed on the blogging site I was using. Now it is clear to me – young adults love this book for more than just its story.

Katniss is easily in stage 5 of Erikson’s psychological development (Erikson, n.d.). She is 16 years old and it is crucial in this stage that the adolescent develops a personal identity. Social relationships are very important and there is a conflict between identity and role confusion as an individual. Katniss has a very strong character. She is brave, stubborn and quite blunt. She is true to herself, except for when she doubts herself in the Games (this is a pattern my peers and I have identified when discussing the book). Teenagers who read this book definitely could view Katniss as a role model. I feel like Katniss has reached the foreclosure status, as Erikson (n.d.) explains it, she has made a commitment without having worked on identity exploration and Erikson characterizes this by dependence. She has depended on herself to be brave, to not show emotion, to provide for her family and keep on fighting. Everything that defines her as a strong character.

Keeping Katniss in mind, Appleyard (n.d.) mentions that teenagers feel that involvement and identification with the character is why they read. I can see why teens would identify with Katniss. How many adolescents feel they cannot rely on their parents, or any adult ever? The heroine of this book deals with so many realistic struggles and this is what appeals to what young adults look for in reading (Appleyard, p.6).

I think this book is a great read for teens aged 13 and up. I feel like they could learn a lot from Katniss and maybe some teens would feel less alone in their own struggles.

It is an amazing read and truly food for thought.